Flipped Theme of Courage

We've got some gutsy characters in this book. Just take a look at Juli—nothing is going to stop her from climbing to the top of the sycamore tree; plus this girl will stand up to chain saws. And then there's Bryce. He hasn't always been full of courage, but over time he gets so brave that he tells Juli how he feels right in public. Now that's a gutsy move for an eighth-grader. You see, in Flipped, being brave isn't always about fitting in. In fact, for Bryce and Juli sometimes it's about standing out from the crowd.

Questions About Courage

  1. What gives the characters courage? And what makes them afraid? How do the characters push past their fears and become brave instead?
  2. Does being brave have any downsides in Flipped?
  3. Which characters are the bravest? And which show the least courage? What do you think makes the courageous characters so fearless?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

In Flipped, it's best to be courageous. When Bryce makes brave decisions, he reaps some major rewards.

In Flipped, sometimes it's okay to be scared. Even when the characters aren't brave, they still turn out all right in the end.